(a) Contracts between the department and participating area agencies on aging shall be exempt from Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 10290) of Part 2 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code.
(b) For the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, participating area agencies on aging that cover a single planning and service area shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1997–98 fiscal year, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agencies on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services.
(c) For the health insurance counseling and advocacy program, participating area agencies on aging that cover multiple planning and service areas shall enter into mutual agreements or joint powers agreements, or both, to maintain the existing service arrangements for the health insurance counseling and advocacy program for the 1997–98 fiscal year and for one additional year, if needed, but not to extend beyond June 30, 1999, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services.
(d) For the programs other than the health insurance counseling and advocacy program specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), participating area agencies on aging shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1997–98 fiscal year, unless either a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or if state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services.
(e) For the programs other than the health insurance counseling and advocacy program specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540), participating area agencies on aging shall maintain the existing service arrangements during the 1998–99 fiscal year, unless a contractor terminates the agreement according to the terms and conditions of the existing contract, the state and the area agency on aging terminate the agreement for legal cause under the terms and conditions of the existing contract, or state funds cease to be budgeted for the specified services.
(f) Subject to fiscal years specified in subdivisions (b) to (e), inclusive, participating area agencies on aging that elect not to provide the community-based services specified in Chapter 7.5 (commencing with Section 9540) directly, shall provide for the services through contracts awarded on the basis of a competitive proposal or bid process, or both, that is conducted at least once every four years, except that an area agency on aging shall not be required to conduct a full competitive process if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) A request for application is published, and full outreach is conducted to reasonably notify all potential interested parties, such as formal advertisements in trade journals and association publications.
(2) No applicants, in addition to current contractors, respond to the request for application.
(3) Complete documentation of the outreach effort is maintained by the area agency on aging.
(g) Any dispute regarding the procurement of, and the terms and conditions of the direct service contracts procured by the area agency on aging shall be resolved locally, consistent with subdivision (k) of Section 9535, and as specified in the local area agency procurement documents and contracts.
(Added by Stats. 1996, Ch. 1097, Sec. 13. Effective January 1, 1997.)